Order please. I am sorry, but to be clear, I have to respond in English.

Because the House is under special order on Bill C-9, I have to find out whether or not the request is receivable by the Chair. I further point out that the special order relates to closure on Bill C-9. Obviously this motion would be receivable if the House were not under special order on closure for the vote on Bill C-9 today. That is the ambiguity I need to address.

As members will recall, when the motion was first presented, I asked for time to consult. It was my opinion that because the House was under a special order on closure on Bill C-9, a motion to adjourn would not be receivable. I was informed that the motion was receivable. I have been subsequently informed after further research that under Standing Order 25 a motion to adjourn is only receivable if given by a minister of the government.

I made a mistake earlier this morning in not presenting a motion for unanimous consent correctly. I made another one now in receiving a motion that was not receivable. Under the standing orders of the House, the motion is not receivable. Therefore, with my apologies to those who have been called to the House early, there will not be a vote on that motion. The motion is not receivable.

Mr. Speaker, on November 23, in an interview with Denis Labrecque of the Parlemenu , the daily newspaper of Abitibi's Vallée-de-l'Or, André Pelletier, the Parti Quebecois member of the National Assembly for Abitibi-Est made a statement in connection with a recent survey in which 59% of respondents reported they would have voted no in a referendum on Quebec independence. He said “The results will be far different when the real question is asked”.

According to PQ MNA André Pelletier, the real question should be “Do you want to disappear?”

Who is it that this MNA wants to see disappear? Once again this PQ MNA is stirring up fear and uncertainty, wanting to see Abitibi separate from Canada.

He will never get me to disappear, as a native of Abitibi, a Quebecer and a Canadian.

The culture of Abitibi is going to stand up steadfastly against the cynical threats by PQ MNA for Abitibi-Est André Pelletier.

Mr. Speaker, Revenue Canada's knights of the double standard are off on a fearless crusade against non-profit community associations in rural Saskatchewan.

Apparently having solved all the minor problems like movement of major corporate assets offshore, they now have time to go after the really big stuff: recreational facilities provided for children by groups of volunteers.

Many such groups contract local individuals to maintain skating and curling rinks.

Contractors are personally responsible for remitting income tax and payments till now have been exempt from EI and CPP deductions. Suddenly arrangements that have worked well for years are being questioned. Service clubs are being billed for thousands of dollars in back payments for EI and CPP, money that they do not have.

Thanks to Liberal policies, few Saskatchewan farmers have taxable income. Revenue Canada is recovering a tiny fraction of the shortfall by putting the boots to rural communities.

Mr. Speaker, it is my pleasure to rise in the House today to speak about people, plants and pride, the slogan of Communities in Bloom, an organization which seeks to provide a national focus for established provincial and community based beautification programs across Canada.

Launched in 1995 with 29 municipalities participating, this year's edition had the involvement of all provinces and territories. Hundreds of municipalities were involved at the provincial level, while 94 municipalities competed at the national level. With competitions designed to build a spirit of community and to increase civic pride, Communities in Bloom has popularized environmental awareness and heritage conservation.

It gives me great pleasure to announce that the town of Mitchell received four out of five blooms in this year's competition and was a national finalist in the 2,000 to 5,000 population category.

Mr. Speaker, many of the constituents of Etobicoke—Lakeshore share their skills and expertise with others around the world in the Canadian Executive Services Organization, CESO.

Today I would like to take this opportunity to recognize and congratulate two of my constituents, Dr. Gordon Agar and Mrs. Regina Pearce. Dr. Agar spent one month in Lima, Peru, where he provided training to the ministry of energy to overcome environmental problems caused by mercury and cyanide contamination. Mrs. Pearce shared her expertise with municipal leaders and business persons in Russia to improve the quality of their services.

On behalf of the people of Etobicoke—Lakeshore I am proud to extend my hearty congratulations to both Dr. Agar and Mrs. Pearce for a job well done.

Mr. Speaker, the Special Joint Committee of the Commons and Senate on Custody and Access recommended that the Divorce Act be changed to become more child centred and to affirm the fact that both parents have an important role to play in the lives of their children, even after divorce.

According to a 1996 study in the U.S., children in fatherless homes account for the following: 63% of youth suicides, 83% of children with behaviour disorders, 71% of high school dropouts, 85% of youths sitting in jails, and 80% of rapists.

The list goes on. It is clear that children are the real victims of divorce. I support the recommendations of the special joint committee, in particular the requirement for mandatory parenting education prior to the granting of a divorce.

Children do have rights. We as legislators have a duty to protect those rights.

Mr. Speaker, Helen Point on Mayne Island is a postcard of British Columbia's natural beauty. It is viewed by millions of ferry passengers travelling through Active Pass.

Today Helen Point is being logged. This situation could have been avoided if it were not for the complete inaction of not one, not two, but three federal cabinet ministers.

The Minister of the Environment refuses to intervene. The Minister of Canadian Heritage referred to the Gulf Islands as “the jewel of Canada”. Completely out of character, she then fell silent. The Minister of Indian Affairs and Northern Development promised on November 18 that there would be no logging until all requirements had been met, this two weeks after he had already issued the permit.

The local Islands Trust stated that this situation “requires jurisdictional leadership of the Government of Canada”. I could not agree more. There is considerable goodwill on all sides, if only the government would investigate alternatives. Unfortunately the only finger the government lifted for British Columbia was the middle—